Excerpt
There are ghosts here, John.’
‘What?’ John looked round at Kathryn, who stood in the middle of the kitchen. ‘Where, in the turret?’

‘No, the conservatory.’

‘But that’s not that old.’

‘Don’t know what was there before. The conservatory could have been built on top of something. Come on.’

Kathryn took one of the wrought iron chairs and crossed to the wall that faced the river. She sat with her face close to the glass, looking out to where the rain was falling again.

‘Kath, when did you feel it? Just now?’

‘No,’ Kathryn answered quietly, ‘As soon as we got out of the car, but it was faint then. It’s more now. Just shush a while. I’ll see what they say.’ She leaned her face against the glass and closed her eyes. She was conscious of the cold, cold glass against her cheek.

There were dark shapes outside of the glass. Low buildings, hut like. Smoke came through the roofs of two of them. Several figures moved around, their clothing shapeless. A couple was sitting on a low bench whispering together. Kathryn could not make out what they were saying, but could see their affection for each other from the way they sat. They were young, the girl small and pretty, the boy taller and darker.

A man strode back from the edge of the bluff with an authoritative air. He had a full brown beard streaked with grey. Several dogs padded beside him. He shouted something to another man who scurried off between the huts. Kathryn could not understand the language but the bearded man was obviously angry at something.

The couple changed their posture as the bearded man approached. They were no longer leaning toward each other. They were concerned about the approaching man. Worried for what his temper would be like. Worried for what he might say and do, particularly about what he might do.

The girl stood to move away. The bearded man shouted, waving a hand. The girl sat back down, at the furthest end of the bench from the boy, who jumped to his feet.

The bearded man was angry, his face flushed. The boy was arguing back. Kathryn was fearful for what was going to happen. The boy shouted something at the bearded man, who struck him a full blow in the face with his fist. The boy collapsed and the bearded man kicked him twice. The girl was whimpering now, saying something in a pleading voice.

A man came running up. It was the one the bearded man had sent away. The second man had a bundle in his arms. The bearded man reached into the bundle, and with a violent gesture pulled out a massive sword.

Kathryn was trembling with fear for the young couple. She knew something bad was going to happen now, something that had happened in the past on this spot and was going to happen again.